Seat fabric cover fastener

ABSTRACT

An improved fastening device for securing a fabric cover to the frame of a contoured seat having a marginal channel. The device includes a guard member frictionally connected to the seat frame and covering the peripheral edge thereof, the guard member having a longitudinal ridge projecting into the channel and adapted to restrain a resilient retainer within the channel to secure the fabric cover to the frame. Also an integral part of this invention is a method to secure a cover to a seat frame without puncturing the cover or the need for adhesives. The method includes attaching a flexible edge guard to the seat frame; placing the cover on the frame; tucking the edges of the cover within the marginal channel of the seat frame; and forcing a resilient retainer into the channel to wedge the cover between the frame and retainer and thereby draw the cover taut over the frame and secure the cover thereto.

United States Patent [54] SEAT FABRIC COVER FASTENER 5 Claims, 7 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S. Cl 297/458, 5/3532 [5]] Int. Cl B60n U06, A47c 3/00, A47c 7/02[50] Field of Search 297/452,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,273,l78 9/1966 Baruth etal. 297/457 X 3,28 l l 85 l0/l966 Albinson et al 297/452 PrimaryExaminer-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Henderson & Strorn ABSTRACT: Animproved fastening device for securing a fabric cover to the frame of acontoured seat having a marginal channel. The device includes a guardmember frictionally connected to the seat frame and covering theperipheral edge thereof, the guard member having a longitudinal ridgeprojecting into the channel and adapted to restrain a resilient retainerwithin the channel to secure the fabric cover to the frame.

Also an integral part of this invention is a method to secure a cover toa seat frame without puncturing the cover or the need for adhesives. Themethod includes attaching a flexible edge guard to the seat frame;placing the cover on the frame; tucking the edges of the cover withinthe marginal channel of the seat frame; and forcing a resilient retainerinto the channel to wedge the cover between the frame and retainer andthereby draw the cover taut over the frame and secure the cover thereto.

PATENTEB Jun 1 I972 INVENTOR. ISAAC W. SEARS JR.

flww W ATTORNEYS SEAT FABRIC COVER FASTENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the seat construction art, and moreparticularly to a device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seathaving a stamped metal, or molded fiber glass frame such as used ontractors, agricultural equipment, machines, and industrial equipment.

In constructing seats of the above type, a frame conforming to thedesired contour of the seat is provided. Generally the seat will includea base having an integral back rest and may be further provided with armrests or sides. For the sake of appearance and comfort, the frame isgenerally covered with a fabric which normally will cover a cushiondisposed between the frame and the fabric.

Formerly, a spring steel ring, or the like, such as that illustrated inU.S. Pat. No. 1,213,674 was used to secure the cover to the frame.However, with the advent of contoured seats, this type of ring becameobsolete since it lacked flexibility and it was operable only within asingle plane.

Heretofore, the fabric cover was secured to a contoured seat frame withadhesives or a U-shaped band clamping the fabric to the frame. Neitherof these arrangements were conductive to production line assemblage, norwere they found durable over long use. Likewise, drawing the fabriccover taut over the frame to remove all wrinkles therefrom was a tediousprocedure with these arrangements.

The fastener device of this invention is adapted to connect the fabriccover to a contoured frame by means of a resilient, though flexible,retainer resiliently compressing the fabric against the frame. Theretainer member is designed to provide a secure, though a resilientconnection of the fabric to the frame to alleviate tearing of the fabriccover while providing the seat with a durable wrinkle free appearance.In addition, the method of this invention is directed toward productionline assemblage of the seats and is adapted to inherently enhancedrawing the fabric taut over the seat cushion and frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved fastening device for securing acover to a contoured seat frame having a marginal channel, the deviceincluding an elongated guard member disposed over the edge of the frameand frictionally connected thereto to draw the peripheral edge of thecover thereover and into the marginal channel, the guard member having alongitudinal ridge projecting into the channel adjacent the inletthereof; and an elongated resilient retainer member disposed within thechannel and abutting the ridge of the guard member, the retainer memberbeing flexible to conform to the contour of the frame and operable toresiliently compress the fabric cover against the inner wall of thechannel for fastening purposes.

Also an integral part of this invention is the improved method ofsecuring a fabric cover to a seat frame having a marginal channelincluding the steps of l attaching a flexible edge guard to the frameadjacent the peripheral edges thereof; (2) positioning the fabric coveron the frame; (3) tucking the edges of the cover within the channel; and(4) compressing the edges of the cover against the channel wall with aflexible and resilient retainer.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device forsecuring a fabric cover to a seat frame.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cover fasteningdevice for a contoured seat, wherein the cover is compressed against theseat frame.

It is a further object of this invention to provide'a seat coverfastening device adapted to increase the compressing forces securing thecover to the frame upon an increased pulling force on the cover.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a cover guardadapted for quick and easy attachment to a seat frame to cover theabrasive edge of the frame and protect the fabric cover from wear.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cover guard thatis flexible to conform to the contour of a seat and is adaptable for usewith all seats, regardless of their shape or contour.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible retainer thatis capable of being resiliently locked within a channel to securely gripand compress a fabric cover against a seat frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofsecuring a cover to a seat frame that is simple, expedient, and isadaptable to a production line.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a seat coverfastening device that is simple to apply, economical to use, and isdurable.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention willbecome readily apparent upon referring to the following description,when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acontoured seat, with a portion thereof cut away to show the device ofthis invention in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1showing the device of this invention in assembled position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guard member;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retainer member;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5;and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the retainermember.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat cover fastening device ofthis invention is indicated generally by the numeral I0. The fasteningdevice 10 is shown in assembled relationship with a contoured seat 11adapted for attachment to an agricultural implement (not shown), or thelike.

The seat 11 includes a contoured frame 12 having an integrally formedbase 13 and back rest 14. The frame is provided with a rolled peripheralflange 17 forming a marginal channel 18 extending the periphery of theframe 11.

The seat 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) further includes a cushion l9 and a fabriccover 21 drawn taut thereover. The peripheral edge 22 of the cover 21overlaps the peripheral flange I7 and is tucked within the channel 18and secured to the frame 12 by the fastening device 10.

The fastening device 10 (FIG. 2) generally includes a guard 23 coveringthe peripheral edge 24 of the frame 12 and a retainer 26 restrainedwithin the channel I8 by the guard 23 to resiliently compress the fabriccover 21 against the inner wall 27 of the channel 18, and secure thecover 21 to the frame 12.

The guard 23 is frictionally connected to the peripheral flange 17 ofthe frame 12 and includes an elongated, flexible extrusion having alongitudinal slot 28 formed therein to receive the peripheral edge 24 ofthe frame 12. Thus, in assembled position (FIG. 2), the guard 23includes an inner member 29 frictionally engaging inner wall 27 of thechannel 18 and outer member 31 frictionally engaging the outer wall 32of the flange 17. The inner and outer members 29 and 31 areinterconnected to form a curved edge 33 upon which the cover 21 is drawnover and into the channel 18 for securing purposes.

The guard 23 further includes a longitudinal ridge 34 coextensive withcurved edge 33. The ridge 34 projects into the opening 36 of the channel18 and serves to partially occlude the opening 36 to restrain theretainer 26 within the channel 18.

Theretainer 26 is adapted to be inserted into the channel 18 for thepurpose of retaining the cover 21 therein. Generally, the retainer 26 isan elongated, flexible member having resilient qualifies, such that itmay be constricted for insertion into the channel 18 through the opening36, and once within the channel 18, to substantially recover its naturalshape and compress the cover 21 against the inner wall 27 of the channel18.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the retainer 26 is formed of asolid, resilient material, such as rubber, or the like, having acircular configuration in cross section. The diameter of the retainer 26is designed to be slightly less than the diameter of the channel 18.FIG. 7 illustrates a modified retainer 26 having a tubular configurationin cross section found to be equally satisfactory to secure the cover 21to the frame 12.

To assemble the seat 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the guard 23 is first placedover the peripheral edge 24 of the frame 12. This is easily accomplishedby manually forcing one end 37 (FIG. 3) of the guard 23 over the edge 24and progressively applying pressure from the end 37 along the axis ofguard 23 until the entire peripheral edge 24 of the frame 12 is coveredby the guard 23. The cushion l9 and fabric cover 21 are then positionedon the frame 12 and the overlapping edges 22 of the cover 21 aremanually tucked within the channel 18. Once the cover 21 is relativelytaut and wrinkle-free, the retainer 26 is forced within the channel 18with a pincer tool, or the like.

As best illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 2, the retainer 26necessarily compresses to fit within the opening 36 and therebyfrictionally engages the edge 22 of the cover 21. As the retainer 26 isforced in the channel 18, the engaged edge 22 is likewise forced thereinto inherently draw the cover 21 more taut over the frame 12.

An improved fastening device 10 for securing a fabric cover 21 to a seatframe 12 has thus been fully described that is economical, durable andeasy to apply. The flexibility of the fastening device 10 enables it toconform to any desired contour of seat while its resiliency inherentlyfacilitates drawing the cover 12 more taut, in addition to securelyfasten the cover 21 to the seat frame 12 and reduce the opportunity oftearing the cover 21.

Although a preferred embodiment and one modification of the fasteningdevice 10 of this invention has been hereinbefore fully described, it isto be remembered that various modifications can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the invention as hereinafter defined.

I claim:

1. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seatframe having a rolled peripheral flange defining a marginal channel, thefastening device comprising:

guard means frictionally connected to the frame and covering theperipheral edge thereof, said guard means having a curved edge fordrawing the fabric cover thereover and into the channel; and

a retainer means restrained within the channel by said guard means forresiliently compressing the fabric cover against the inner wall of thechannel and thereby securing the fabric cover to the frame.

2. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seat asdefined in claim 1, wherein said guard means includes an elongatedextrusion having a longitudinal slot formed therein for receiving theperipheral edge of the frame.

3. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seat asdefined in claim 2, wherein said extrusion further includes alongitudinal ridge projecting into the channel opening, said ridgepartially occluding the opening.

4. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seat asdefined in claim 3, wherein said retainer means includes an elongatedflexible member.

5. The improved method of securing a fabric cover to a seat frame havinga marginal channel comprising the steps of:

a. manually attaching a flexible edge guard to the peripheral edge ofthe seat frame;

b. osit ioning the cover on the frame; c. ucking the edge of the coverwithin the channel; and

d. forcing a resilient retainer over the covering within the channel todraw the fabric cover taut and secure the cover to the frame.

1. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seatframe having a rolled peripheral flange defining a marginal channel, thefastening device comprising: guard means frictionally connected to theframe and covering the peripheral edge thereof, said guard means havinga curved edge for drawing the fabric cover thereover aNd into thechannel; and a retainer means restrained within the channel by saidguard means for resiliently compressing the fabric cover against theinner wall of the channel and thereby securing the fabric cover to theframe.
 2. A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contouredseat as defined in claim 1, wherein said guard means includes anelongated extrusion having a longitudinal slot formed therein forreceiving the peripheral edge of the frame.
 3. A fastening device forsecuring a fabric cover to a contoured seat as defined in claim 2,Wherein said extrusion further includes a longitudinal ridge projectinginto the channel opening, said ridge partially occluding the opening. 4.A fastening device for securing a fabric cover to a contoured seat asdefined in claim 3, wherein said retainer means includes an elongatedflexible member.
 5. The improved method of securing a fabric cover to aseat frame having a marginal channel comprising the steps of: a.manually attaching a flexible edge guard to the peripheral edge of theseat frame; b. positioning the cover on the frame; c. tucking the edgeof the cover within the channel; and d. forcing a resilient retainerover the covering within the channel to draw the fabric cover taut andsecure the cover to the frame.